This spring, the Pomona College Music Department’s free concert series will feature music spanning continents and centuries. Included will be Dona nobis pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams for choir and orchestra, works by composers of today such as James Díaz, Kaija Saariaho and Tonia Ko, and a special performance of North Indian classical repertoire by guest artist Srivani Jade.
The department’s newest faculty member, Ania Vu, will take the reins as director of the annual Ussachevsky Memorial Festival of Electroacoustic Music. Artifex Consort, an early music ensemble spearheaded by Malachai Komanoff Bandy, will present rarely heard late 17th-century works by Benjamin Hely, Johannes Schenck and others. Faculty pianist Genevieve Feiwen Lee will be joined by guest cellist Tobias Werner to present music by 19th-century French composer Mélanie Bonis along with works by Barber and Beethoven.
“This semester’s curriculum highlights musical voices from past and present that will be thought-provoking for today’s students and community members alike,” says Joti Rockwell, chair of the Music Department. “Sharing live music is a vital part of the academic experience.”
Bridges Hall of Music will come alive with a concert of music for brass and organ and a solo recital by William Peterson, emeritus professor of music and College organist, showcasing the Hill Memorial Organ; a Fête Musicale featuring a festive selection of works chosen by faculty; and an Homage to Brahms. In Lyman Hall, student performers will present Beethoven’s Better Fifth and Ninth, a Piano Extravaganza and a program featuring senior music majors.
In addition to these performances, the department’s student ensembles—the Pomona College Orchestra, Choir, Concert Band, Glee Club, Jazz Ensemble, Balinese Gamelan and Afro-Cuban Music Ensemble—will present concerts with music from around the globe.
All the department’s concerts are free and open to the public.